OMG today was a long day! My goal was to get a Triple Golden Buffalo (the medals have buffalos on them and I wanted gold in all three of my serious events). For half the day, I actually had the Triple Golden Buffalo but...things happened (*cue suspenseful music*)
Preliminary Solo Pattern Dance - This was my first event today and for some reason I was shaky from the start. Before I left for the rink, I ran both pattern dances to the music in my hotel room and I was having some balance issues (and I was on solid ground!). When I got to the rink, the shakiness was still there. I'm not sure it was nerves as I didn't feel terribly nervous but I also didn't sleep very well last night so that could have been a factor. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. There were only two of us competing (me and my unicorn sister/club mate/Christopher's student) so either way I was going to make the podium. But I really wanted to do well for my first competitive dance event. I didn't bomb or anything but the shakiness was noticeable when I stepped on warm-up ice and it carried through to the actual event. First up was Rhythm Blues and I skated okay. I wasn't happy with my performance. I felt like I could have been deeper in my knees for the inside swing rolls. But I did well enough to win first for that dance. Then, we both had to wait 20-30 minutes to skate the Canasta Tango. I thought maybe this would be a good time to relax and let some of the shakiness die down. It didn't. When I skated my Tango, I was shaky again! This time, my unicorn sister took first. So, here's where it gets confusing. When we got our medals, the lady working the table only saw the results for the Rhythm Blues so I got Gold and unicorn sister got Silver. We were told this was the final result. When we came back later in the day, we were told that we actually tied because I won the first dance and she won the second (and we had exactly the same ordinals but for two different dances)...so we both got gold. THEN! We were brought back to the awards table because they made a mistake earlier and didn't do a tie breaker. So, unicorn sister got Gold after the tie break and I got Silver. It makes my triple golden buffalo a double but you know what? My unicorn sister skated really well today and she absolutely deserves Gold. There is nobody better I would rather it be! Here is the link to the Rhythm Blues and here is the Canasta Tango.
Okay so, that was drama, right? I'm not even done with today!
Adult Bronze Freeskate - Guys, I think this was the best I have ever skated this program! I got Gold! All first place ordinals too! Woot! I got into position and really let myself feel the music. I might have felt too much because I was a little weepy getting off the ice. This music ("Fix You") is just a little too relevant right now with my cat so sick. The emotions worked in my favor because this is the first time I have ever skated with genuine expression. From the judge's POV I was just selling the program but in my heart, I know I only have maybe a few more months with my cat (whom I've had for 17.5 years). So yeah, I was legit a mess. But...Gold! This was the event that mattered the most to me :) Here is the link to the video.
Survivor - So since all 7 of us registered for the event are all part of the unicorn tribe, we collectively decided that we didn't want to be judged. We wanted to celebrate ALL of us! So we asked the referee for permission to skate this event without judges...and they said YES! OMG, it was a blast! No judges meant we could just skate for fun and pure joy. Coach Jill put on her unicorn onesie and the rest of us wore our Unicorn Tribe shirts, black leggings, unicorn scarves, and unicorn horns. We put on some fun music and Jill lead us through a warmup and the unofficial survivor event. Jill timed us doing the three moves and, at the end, the winner got a special unicorn trophy, no medals. So much fun! 10/10 would do again! Even the event organizers took video and pictures! It was a true act of solidarity and joy for adult skating. This is what it's all about!
So, to tally things up:
Adult Bronze Moves in the Field: GOLD
Adult Preliminary Solo Pattern Dance: GOLD SILVER!
Adult Bronze Freeskate - GOLD
Adult Survivor - Cheryl won the trophy but we were ALL winners!
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